Wrench



fFeb. 21 1939.. P. E. MATTA 2,148,080

WRENCH Filed July 15, 1938 A itornqys Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates tonew and useful improvements in wrenches of the type including a slidable jaw and. has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth a tool of this character embodying novel means whereby the movable jaw may be expeditiously adjusted as desired.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the aforementioned character comprising novel means for releasably securing the slidable jaw in adjusted position.

Other objects: of the invention are to provide a wrench of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a wrench constructed in-accordance with the present invention, a portion of the slidable jaw being broken away in section.

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of the forward portion of the tool.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a bar I of suitable metal, said bar being preferably of substantially the cross sectional shape shown to advantage in Fig. 3 of the drawing. On the forward end of the bar I is a stationary jaw 2. At its other end, the bar I terminates in a handle 3. Ratchet teeth 4 are provided on the front of the bar I adjacent the handle 3. The reference numeral 5 designates a removable stop which is secured on the handle 3 at one end of the ratchet teeth 4.

Mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the bar I between the stop 5 and the stationary jaw 2 is a slidable inner jaw 6. The sides of the jaw 6 are recessed, as at 'I. The jaw 6 has extending therethrough a bore 8 which accommodates the bar I. In the inner end portion of the bore 8 the jaw 6 is provided with an integral tooth or lip 9 which is engageable with the ratchet teeth 4 for holding said jaw 6 in adjusted position. As illustrated to advantage in Fig. 1

of the drawing, the bore 8 is slightly tapered from end to end for permitting the jaw 6 to be rocked on the bar I in order that the tooth 9 may clear the ratchet teeth 4. The back of the slidable jaw 6 has formed in its inner end portion a recess Ii! which is traversed by a pin II. Journalled at an intermediate point on the pin I I and operable in the recess I0 is a lever I2. One end of the lever I 2 is engaged with the back of the bar I. The other end portion of the lever 12 extends over a plate I3 which is integral with the jaw 6 in the recess ID. A coil spring I4 is provided between the plate I3 and the adjacent end portion of the lever I2 for pressing the other end of said lever against the bar I. The end portion of the lever I2 which is remote from the bar I is provided with a recess I5 for receiving a thumb or finger.

Forwardly of the recess I 0, the back of the slidable jaw 6 has formed therein an opening I6 which accommodates a comparatively heavy or stilt coil spring II. One end of the coil spring I'I bears on the bar I. The tension of the coil spring I! may be regulated as desired through the medium of an adjustable plug I8 which is threadedly mounted in the opening I6.

It is thought that the operation of the tool will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The slidable jaw 6 may be adjusted toward the stationary jaw 2 by simply pushing forwardly on said jaw 6, the spring I1 and the spring actuated lever I2 permitting the tooth 9 to ride over the ratchet teeth I I]. When it is desired to adjust the jaw 6 away from the jaw 2, the lever I2 is swung away from the bar I against the tension of the spring I4 and said jaw 6 is rocked on the bar I against the tension of the spring I! in a manner to disengage the tooth 9 from the ratchet teeth 4 or, in other words, to cause said tooth 9 to clear said ratchet teeth. The jaw 6 may then be moved toward the handle 3 to the desired position. By removing the stop 5 the slidable jaw 6 may be conveniently removed from the bar I by simply slipping said jaw over the handle 3. It will be noted that the recess I0 provides bifurcations I 9 on the slidable jaw 6 between which the spring pressed lever I2 is operable.

It is believed that the many advantages of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the tool is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

A wrench comprising, in combination, a bar including ratchet teeth on its front, a stationary jaw on one end of said bar, a handle on the other end of the bar, an adjustable jaw slidably and rockably mounted on the bar, said adjustable jaw having a tapered bore extending therethrough accommodating the bar, a tooth integral with the adjustable jaw in one end portion of the bore and engageable with the ratchet teeth for releasably securing said adjustable jaw in 15 position, a removable stop on the handle adjacent the ratchet teeth for limiting the sliding movement of the adjustable jaw in one direction, and means on the adjustable jaw for rocking same for engaging the tooth with the ratchet teeth, said means including a lever pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point on the back of the adjustable jaw on the inner end portion thereof and engageable with the back of the bar, a spring engaged with the lever for yieldingly urging same toward the bar, a comparatively heavy spring mounted in the adjustable jaw forwardly of the lever and engaged with the back of the bar, and means for adjusting the tension of the second named spring.

PETER E. MATTA. 

